Crime Blog

Dallas police officer fired for not responding to emergency call

Last week, Police Chief David Kunkle fired a 13-year-veteran after he failed to respond to a police call and instead went to conduct personal business at a bank.

At the time, we didn’t have much detail about the circumstances that led to the firing of police Officer Carlos Alvarez. Today, I obtained a copy of the internal affairs investigation through an open records request.

In my experience covering DPD, this particular case would not typically result in termination. Senior commanders say what set Alvarez apart was his extensive history of discipline for missing work.
At 12:02 p.m. on Aug. 20, Alvarez was dispatched to a shoplifting call in the 2400 block of West Ledbetter Drive. Two minutes later, another officer who was driving by stopped at the location of the incident and put out a call for help.

A police sergeant noticed that Alvarez had not yet arrived at the call. At 12:09 p.m., Alvarez told her that he was on his way to the call. At 12:19 p.m., Alvarez left the bank where he had gone to take care of an overdraft on his bank account.

He arrived at the call at 12:24 p.m. – 22 minutes after first being dispatched.

Alvarez later told investigators that he didn’t think it would take long at the bank. He said he did not initially hear the dispatcher give him the call.

He said did not leave the bank immediately after finding out about the call because the bank teller still had his license and bank card in the manager’s office. Once he retrieved them, he immediately went to the call. He said he did not hear the other officer request help.

“I made a mistake and it will not happen again,” Alvarez wrote in his statement to internal investigators.

A supervisor who initially counseled him over the incident spoke highly of Alvarez in his written statement.

“Officer Alvarez is an excellent officer, handles a high number of calls and often interprets for other officers,” Sgt. Marc Hearn wrote. “He is an asset to the watch.”

In 1998 and 2000, Alvarez received minor discipline for missing court. In 2002, he received a five-day suspension for missing work and giving misleading statements. In 2002 and 2003, he received minor discipline for missing court. In 2005, he got a 10-day suspension for missing work.

In 2006, he was given a 20-day suspension for missing work and making misleading statements. In 2007, he was given a documented counseling for not going to court.

Alvarez’s sergeant and lieutenant both recommended a 10-day suspension over the August 2009 incident. Deputy Chief Rick Watson, commander of southwest patrol, and Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson, who oversees all the patrol stations, both recommended termination.

Kunkle made the final decision.

Top Picks

ArchivesAbout this blog

About this Blog

Criminal justice reporters, editors and invited guests provide news and analysis impacting Dallas-area police, courts, fire and other public safety issues and entities. Readers are encouraged to join the conversation.